Mobile Apps

There was a time when South African gambling fans had to travel all the way to a licensed landbased casino for a few quick punts on blackjack, roulette or slots. This resulted in a variety of inconveniences for players as not everyone could afford to spare the necessary time or pay the costs associated with traveling and amenities.

Luckily this all changed about two decades ago with the advent of interactive gambling. The first online casino appeared in 1994 and soon there was a boom of web-based gambling worldwide, with hundreds of operators going online. South Africans followed suit and many players from this location decided to ditch landbased gambling for betting on the web. Yet, inconvenience again resulted from the fact people who wanted to gamble online were home-bound because the only way for them to connect to the internet was by using their desktop computers.

Ten years after the launch of the first online casino, the industry saw another major innovation – the introduction of mobile gambling. The access to mobile phones with an internet connection has increased proportionately to the improvements in technology. Statistics show us that approximately 16.5 million South Africans used smartphones as of 2016 but this number is expected to exceed 25 million by 2022. Many players from the country find it more convenient and easier to gamble on their favorite casino games as they go because this unlocks a whole new world of easily accessible entertainment for them.

Mobile South African casinos are compatible with a vast range of devices from iPhones and iPads through Android and Windows-based smartphones and tablets. A wealth of quality casino games and unparalleled entertainment await those who decide to switch from desktop to mobile casino play. You have never played on the go before? Good! Because this is precisely what our comprehensive article aims at, i.e. helping you to make your first steps into the world of mobile gambling as smoothly as possible.

Accessibility at South Africa Mobile Casinos

The first thing South African players are probably wondering about is what devices they can load their favorite casino games on. As becomes apparent from statistics released in recent years, the country boasts one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in the world, with over 80% of South Africa’s mobile users owning hand-held devices that are based on the Android OS.

The good news is most, if not all, mobile casinos accepting play from this jurisdiction are Android-compatible, giving South Africans the chance to play on a broad range of smartphones that use this OS. Many Android-friendly casinos can work on older devices like Samsung Galaxy S4 or Google Nexus 7 but naturally the games can be loaded on newer smartphones such as Samsung’s latest flagship Galaxy S9, for instance.

Devices produced by other manufacturers that rely on Android OS are also supported, with Huawei, LG, HTC, and Sony Xperia being just a few of the examples. The games are guaranteed to work as long as they have the Adobe Flash plug-in installed and updated.

The smartphone owners from South Africa who use iOS-based devices are significantly fewer than Android users, at 11.17%. However, mobile gambling operators are known for their unceasing drive to cater to all demands and preferences, which is why most mobile casinos also respond very well to smartphones and tablets using Apple’s software.

Similarly to Android casinos, their iOS-compatible counterparts would operate without a hitch on older devices like iPhone 6 or iPad Air as well as on later releases like iPhone 10. If you are not sure what version of the operating system your Apple device uses, you can easily figure this out by going through the settings menu. You are also advised to check your chosen mobile casino specifications. Many South Africa casinos would publish the system requirements for mobile devices on their websites. If your version of the iOS is indeed supported, we recommend you play your favorite casino games in Apple’s native Safari browser.

There are only about 1.11% Blackberry owners out of all smartphone users in South Africa, but their needs are also catered to when it comes to gaming on the go. There are rarely downloadable applications for casino fans using Blackberry but most casinos would allow you to load your desired games in instant play where you only need an up-to-date browser. For optimal in-browser performance, it is recommended to use 4G or a reliable Wi-Fi connection.

Play-Money vs. Real-Money Apps – Which is Better?

This brings us to the two alternatives South Africa mobile casino players are facing. The first of these is to look up your preferred casino’s website to check whether it offers you a dedicated real-money application that is compatible with your smartphone or tablet. Some of the most famed mobile casinos that service South African clientèle have designed special applications for iOS which you can easily find by typing the operator’s brand name into the App Store’s search facility. If your chosen casino indeed offers a free downloadable app, it will pop up for you to install it on your device directly from the App Store.

Players from South Africa who own Android phones or tablets will not be able to download their casino apps from Google Play because the latter gives access to real-money gambling content only to customers from a couple of regulated markets and unfortunately South Africa is not among those. As you have probably read on our website, online casino gambling was outlawed in South Africa with a decision of the High Court that officially prohibited both locally based and offshore operators from servicing customers from this jurisdiction.

However, this is but a minor inconvenience for South African players looking to download Android-compatible gambling apps on their devices. They can find such apps, if offered, on their favorite casinos’ websites and download them from there after authorizing the installation of apps from unknown sources by tackling the settings of their smartphones.

Real-money gambling on the web is obviously prohibited in South Africa, although there are no known cases of players being sued or fined for participating in such activities. This brings us to option number two. If you are a law-abiding casino fan who resides in South Africa, you can easily download applications that involve casino gambling but use play money instead of real money. Now, there is no law against that, which spares you the twinges of guilt you experience when engaging in something prohibited.

There are many play-money gambling apps at both Google Play and the App Store. These can be downloaded at no cost, after which the player is granted a specific amount in free credits to wager with. This is a good alternative for those looking to improve their skills and knowledge of casino games. The downside is that these apps include in-app purchases.

The users need to pay actual money in order to gain access to specific features or play without ads interrupting their sessions. Some players even report abnormally low win rates which ironically improve once you make a purchase. The free credits balance is reset at intervals, so if you run out of free monies to play with, sooner or later your balance will be reloaded. The bottom line is those who do not feel like waiting will have to pay to play, but what is worse, any winnings they generate cannot be paid out in real money. So in practice, you end up risking real money to gamble via the app but you cannot win a single dime on the games.

In our personal opinion, it would still be best for such players to download a real-money gambling app. Many South Africa mobile casinos would offer you apps that support free play where demo credits are used instead of actual money. When these run out, all you have to do is reload the game you are playing and you will be awarded more demo credits.

And another thing – the certified RNG the casino games utilize to determine the outcome does not distinguish between real-money and free-money play. In other words, your win rates will not be affected when you play in demo mode. Additionally, this preps you up for real-money gambling so when you decide to make a real bet, your chances of success will be greater because you would have already tested the games.

Casino Games Available on Mobile

South African players are given access to a wealth of gambling options that are available at a single tap at their touchscreens. Mobile casinos friendly to players from this location run a variety of games, starting with the two most popular options among South Africans – the video slots and the scratchcards.

At mobile casinos, you can find loads of video slots that have been designed specifically for gaming on the go and in fact, playing them on your phone is no different than doing so on desktop computers. If anything, it is more convenient and engaging. Some of the best video slots released to date have been adapted for mobile devices, including must-try titles like Mega Fortune, Age of the Gods, Viking Runecraft, and Fire and Steel.

Mobile roulette is also an option for players from South Africa, with mobile casinos sticking to some of the classics in the genre like European, American, and French Roulette. The mobile version of roulette tends to look and play a bit differently from the desktop version but this can be attributed to the reduction in screen size.

Blackjack and other iconic casino card games like baccarat and poker are also available at the fingertips of South African players. You will find these enticing games are just as exciting and enjoyable when played on mobile, if not even more. These games are less demanding than slots because of their lack of heavy animations so fans will not have to suffer through any screen freezes, lags, or other problems that would otherwise ruin their enjoyment. There is not much of diversity with baccarat, but poker and blackjack fans have more options like Perfect Pairs, Multi-Hand Blackjack, Casino Hold’em, and sometimes even Pontoon.

Speaking of poker, you will find a satisfactory variety of video poker variations at many South Africa-friendly mobile casinos as well. Some of the must-try games from this category that we advise you to look up include Deuces Wild, Jacks or Better, and Double Bonus Poker. This way you can show off your sick poker skills during a lunch break or simply pass the time more pleasantly while you are waiting in line.

A study conducted in 2006 shows us that the most popular form of gambling among South African residents is the National Lottery where participation exceeded 96% of the people involved in the survey. South Africa mobile casinos are always ready and willing to cater to popular demand which is why they would offer customers from the country some of the best specialty games with nice animations and original themes. These are also very easy to play and include the lottery-styled number game Keno and scratchcards like the popular Gladiator Scratch, for instance. Bingo is also an option for mobile users from this location.

Many mobile casinos would support live dealer games on the go, allowing you to escape from the nuisances of everyday life by experiencing the thrills, associated with landbased gambling on your smartphone.

Mobile Casino Banking Options

The options South African gambling fans have at mobile casinos largely coincide with those available at desktop casinos. What this means is you will have an extensive enough range of payment solutions to be able to select the one that is the best for you. South Africa mobile casinos carefully vet the payment options they work with to ensure they cover all the necessary efficiency, speed, and safety standards. Payments are further protected by cutting-edge technologies which are pretty much the same as those used by banks throughout South Africa.

Some of the methods South Africa players find the most convenient and reliable include credit and debit cards by Visa and MasterCard, the e-wallets by Neteller, ecoPayz, and Skrill, the virtual Visa cards provided by Entropay, and bank transfers. Some players from this country would prefer to deposit with local banking solutions like EasyEFT, which is suitable for those who do not mind filling in the short registration form.

EasyEFT enables you to transfer funds from one account to another within a matter of seconds but its biggest advantage is that it eliminates the need of conversion from ZAR to another currency, which also makes it incredibly cost-effective. Considering how volatile the currency exchange rates can be, being able to deposit in ZAR directly is a major plus. Just to offer an example, at the time of writing the present article $1 equaled roughly R12.6.

Another mobile casino payment method that is local to South African players is called SID Instant EFT. It again requires registration but the trouble is well worth it. There is no need for players to own a credit card to use it, all it takes is holding an online banking account at a supported local bank like First National Bank, Standard Bank of South Africa, Nedbank, and ABSA. This method is incredibly secure since players are issued a unique code each time they make a transfer. Additionally, SID Instant EFT protects them from unauthorized transfers of up to R10,000.

The bottom line is to choose a payment solution that allows you to both deposit and cash out your mobile casino spoils in ZAR as you go. It would be rather daunting if you deposit with a given method only to end up looking for another solution to withdraw your money. The optimal thing for you to do would be to pick a method that meets the above criteria and offers you a nice deposit bonus to boot.

Merits of Mobile Gambling

There are many good reasons to join a South Africa mobile casino, starting with the unprecedented versatility of games you get to enjoy there, especially in comparison to what landbased casinos in the country have to offer. Not only that but the games are proven to be 100% fair and their quality on mobile is superb, to say the least.

These casinos have tailored their services and products according to the needs of South African players and therefore, would support locally available banking methods that allow for payments to be conducted in the local ZAR currency. This way you will not be forced to deal with any daunting currency conversion fees and will have the peace of mind that your money is out of harm’s way.

You will benefit from some quality gaming as you go even if you do not own the latest smartphone or tablet. The mobile casino games have been created with smartphone play in mind, which translates into a great sharpness of the graphics, a smooth gameplay, and an overall enjoyable experience you cannot benefit from on your desktop computer. Also, the gaming controls have been adapted for mobile play which means you will not get unnerved from having to deal with tiny buttons and cards that are next to impossible to make out. While on the go, you have access to the casinos’ support facilities which is yet another positive.

Best Real-Money Casinos for South African Players

There are so many appealing mobile casinos open to South African players, but finding the one that is right for you is of utmost importance. This can be a mean feat, though, when you consider the vast choice of options for Rand players. At BestCasinoSites.co.za we have done all the hard work for you, so check the top five South Africa mobile casinos below and thank us later.

Casino.com is a fun South Africa-friendly casino that is overloaded with lots of exciting games, mouth-watering jackpots, and promotional offers you simply do not want to miss out on. The casino accepts play from the country and caters to the needs of Rand players by offering them a choice from a variety of globally and locally available banking solutions, including EasyEFT.

The casino’s website adapts beautifully to in-browser play but South Africa customers can also download its free native applications for iOS and Android. The mobile selection of games at Casino.com is extensive enough, with multiple contributions from industry innovators like Playtech and Quickspin. Casino.com is also at its customers’ convenience and demonstrates a laudable level of care for its patrons. You can contact representatives of the casino as you go anytime you like – the support staff is at your disposal day and night.

Mansion Casino is another reputable gambling website that supports play from South Africa. Its website looks rather simple at first glance but soon you will see this only works to your advantage. The simple black interface is both elegant and easy to navigate while the games on offer impress with vivid and rich graphics, which is be expected from their supplier, Playtech.

The casino is home to a nice variety of slots, specialties and table games, but joining a table manned by dealers in real time is also on the menu. Like any contemporary online casino, Mansion supports play on mobile and even offers its users the option to make punts through its dedicated application for both Android and iOS. The app gives you access to exclusive mobile bonuses, more than 300 superb games, the live casino, and the 24/7 support facility.

Trada Casino takes pride in offering South African players a fun and fair gaming experience. Combine this with fast payouts and there is nothing left more to be desired. The casino has taken a slightly different course from the competition by teaming up with an array of software suppliers. Its gaming library poses as an amalgamation of some of the best creations of Pragmatic Play, iSoftBet, NetEnt, Quickspin, WMS, Playson, and Pariplay while its live section runs on Evolution Gaming software.

Always generous to its players, Trada Casino hands out lucrative bonuses to all new and old members. In addition to its generosity, vast portfolio and reliable banking methods, the casino runs a mobile-responsive website that can be accessed on the go via most popular smartphones, including those based on Android, iOS, and Windows OS. There is no need to download any extra apps here – just load your favorite games in your browser and enjoy hours of fun as you go.

Punt Casino

Considered simply one of the best web-based destinations for gambling fans from South Africa, Punt Casino is geared precisely towards the needs of customers from this jurisdiction. Players from the country get the chance to deposit and withdraw in their local ZAR currency. They also have a choice from several secure methods of payment and are provided with transparent gaming environment and plenty of top-shelf casino games.

Punt Casino offers a profusion of video slots and table games, developed by well-known provider RealTime Gaming. The casino also gives out fantastic loyalty rewards to its patrons while new players get a good head-start with the help of amazing welcome bonuses.

The games at Punt Casino are accessible in-browser via desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones and demonstrate excellent responsiveness and loading speed. Some of the must-try titles for on-the-go players at Punt Casino include the exciting slots Achilles, Cleopatra’s Gold, and Crystal Waters but table games like blackjack and roulette are also available for play on mobile.

Springbok Casino

Named after the springbok gazelle inherent to the dry plains of South Africa, Springbok Casino must be the most popular gambling operator to welcome action from this country. The casino offers its clientèle a straightforward interface, plenty of bonuses and promotions it would be a crime to miss, and an impressive range of premier slots and table games created by RealTime Gaming.

Many of the games have been adapted for play on mobile, with players having the option to enjoy them in their browsers thanks to the cross-compatible platform of the casino that has already switched to using HTML5. More games are being added to Springbok’s mobile selection on a frequent basis. As of 2018, the casino has been given yet another upgrade in the form of an intuitive and easy-to-use native app, compatible with Android-based phones and tablets.